City of Chico City Arts Grant

The City of Chico Arts Grant Program aims to enhance cultural engagement by supporting local artists and arts organizations. Funded by a portion of the Transient Occupancy Tax, the grant promotes diverse projects that include community participation and artistic excellence. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a 1:1 cash match and a commitment to serving underserved populations. This initiative fosters inclusivity and access to quality arts experiences, ensuring a vibrant cultural landscape for Chico's residents.

The purpose of the City of Chico Arts Grant Program is to support Chico Arts Organizations and Artists so that they may make quality arts and cultural work, performances, and exhibitions available and accessible to members of the Chico community.
The funding source for the City of Chico Arts Grant Program is 1% percent of the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).
Projects Should
Deliver or provide support for the delivery of opportunities for the community to engage in arts and cultural experiences.Demonstrate artistic rigor and thoughtful planning to engage the community and audiences.Demonstrate strong support from the community.Demonstrate inclusive service to broad, diverse, and underserved populations.Diversity: The fact or quality of difference in terms of ability, age, belief, culture, ethnicity, gender, language, race and sexual orientation.Underserved Population: People who genuinely lack access to arts programs, services, or resources for geographic, economic, cultural, social, physical, or other demonstrable reasons.

Eligibility

All grant applications must offer a dollar-for-dollar (1:1) match. A cash match may be from corporate or private contributions, state or federal government funds, or earned income. City of Chico funds cannot be used as a match.Nonprofit arts and cultural organizationsOperating within the city of ChicoWith a two-year history of producing or presentingIndividual artists are only eligible if applying under the sponsorship of a 501(c)3, not for profit that meets the other eligibility requirementsProject ScopeFunds may be used for projects, events, exhibitions, and performances or for capital improvement and equipment projects that support the organization’s ability to provide arts and cultural services. Funds should be considered “seed” monies for projects and not ongoing support.

Ineligibility

Funds may not be used fornon-arts and cultural activitiesgeneral operationsstaff salary or benefitsdebt servicefundraising activitiesprograms intended for private use or use by a restricted membershipprojects with religious purposestrust, endowments, or investment purposes